The Balanced You Worksite Fund is a competitive grant process brought to you by the Balanced You team, located in King County’s Department of Human Resources. The Worksite Fund is another way King County is Investing in YOU to build a culture that supports the health, well-being, and safety of all employees.
This year marked the Worksite Fund’s second year. We received over 150 applications totaling almost $580,000 in requests. That’s an over 50% increase in applications and an 81% increase in funds requested compared to 2018!
In 2019, we are investing just over $100,000 in 43 projects reaching worksites throughout the County. In addition to awarding applications with Worksite Fund dollars, Balanced You partnered with your leadership to identify additional funding to help bring your projects to life.
It was exciting to see so many great applications! Applications were reviewed and recommended for funding by a team of 23 employees, including employees from the Office of Labor Relations; Department of Human Resources; Office of Equity & Social Justice; Benefits, Payroll, and Retirement Operations; Performance, Strategy, and Budget; Public Health; Office of Assessments; Metro Transit; Facilities Management Division; and Risk Management.
Common types of projects funded included:
-
- Kitchen upgrades, supplies, appliances
- Training (nutrition, yoga, mental health)
- Team building and recreation activities
- Physical activity equipment and supplies
- Creation of wellness spaces
- Implementation of water bottle filling stations
See the list below to learn more about the 2019 Balanced You Worksite Fund recipients.
We intend to offer the Worksite Fund opportunity again in early 2020. Eligible projects that did not receive funding in this round are welcome to reapply. While the Worksite Fund opportunity is now closed for 2019, Balanced You supports employees in many ways throughout the year. Contact balancedyou@kingcounty.gov to learn more.
| 2019 Balanced You Worksite Fund Recipients | |||
| Agency | Project Name | Project Summary | Geography |
| Black and African Employee Group
|
Agape Fit Queens and Kings
|
Culturally-competent physical, financial, and mental health series. | MultIple
|
| Department of Adult and Juvenile Detention
|
KC DAJD-CCD To Health and Beyond
|
Pedometers and fitness competitions. | Downtown |
| Department of Adult and Juvenile Detention
|
Prevent Defensive Tactics Training Injury with Joint Stabilization Classes
|
A train-the-trainer program to prevent soft tissue injuries. | Multiple
|
| Department of Assessments | Exploring Wellness Opportunities in the Work Environment | Under-desk ellipticals. | Downtown |
| Department of Assessments | Exercise for Health | Non-gym exercise equipment and ping-pong table. | South |
| Department of Elections | A team that moves together, improves together | Yoga classes and ping pong table. | Downtown |
| Department of Executive Services
|
Fight Fast Food for Facilities
|
Breakroom updates including cooking equipment, plates, etc. | Multiple |
| Department of Executive Services
|
FMD Bike Downtown Project Initiative
|
Bike share for FMD staff. | Downtown |
| Department of Executive Services
|
Sharing Culture through Cooking Demonstrations, Recipes, and Stories
|
Healthy cooking demonstrations that celebrate staff’s cultures and traditions. | Downtown |
| Department of Human Resources
|
Building Bridges and Healing Community
|
Training for DHR staff to use art and story-telling to address inequity. | Multiple |
| Department of Human Resources
|
Career and Culture Division, Thriving Culture
|
Retreat to define team culture, reduce stress, and improve work/life balance.
|
Downtown |
| Department of Local Services
|
Permitting Wellness Retreat
|
Retreat with training on how to move more at work and relieve stress.
|
North |
| Department of Local Services
|
Roads Lounge
|
Wellness room to encourage relaxation and social connection.
|
South |
| Department of Natural Resources and Parks
|
Learning Self-Defense Together!
|
Self-defense class that includes some physical activity and at-home empowerment homework.
|
East
|
| Department of Natural Resources and Parks
|
Host Peacemaking Circle Introductory Training Workshop
|
Peacemaking Circle training as a strategy for resolving workplace conflict. | Downtown |
| Department of Public Defense
|
Reducing Stress at Public Defense
|
Onsite yoga classes, onsite mindfulness training, and meditation and mindfulness CDs.
|
Downtown |
| Department of Public Health
|
Let’s Move Eastgate
|
Small exercise equipment and room divider. | East |
| Department of Public Health
|
Bringing the Outside In
|
Lights and plants to improve environment.
|
Downtown |
| Department of Public Health
|
Building Connections and Welcoming Spaces
|
Unnatural Causes DVD, projector, television, and seats. | South |
| Department of Public Health
|
Office Environment Improvement Project
|
Air purifier and plants to improve air quality and environment in shared office space. | Downtown |
| Department of Public Health
|
Bupe Pathways Reflective Supervision
|
Facilitated retreat and training to improve mental health and reduce secondary trauma. | Downtown |
| King County District Court | Auburn Courthouse Mental Recharge / Serenity Room | Create a new relaxation / quiet room, including massage chair. | South |
| King County District Court | Bringing Visual and Physical Tranquility to Call Center | Artwork, mural, standing mats, light therapy lamps, and water bottle station to improve call center. | West |
| King County District Court | Iron Chef Clerk Challenge | Iron chef challenge focused on healthy foods representative of employees’ cultures. | West |
| King County District Court | Wishing on a Star | Under-desk ellipticals and mobility / strength kits. | South |
| King County District Court | KCDC Shoreline | Water bottle service, stress balls, and standing / anti-fatigue mats. | North |
| King County Information Technology
|
RYT 200 course
|
Yoga teacher training to continue providing free yoga classes to employees.
|
Downtown |
| King County Sheriff’s Office
|
Communications Center Wellness Room
|
Massage chair and zen garden to improve mental health.
|
South |
| King County Sheriff’s Office
|
First Responder Mental Health and Wellness conference
|
Conference to support mental health and reduce secondary trauma for first responders. | Multiple |
| Legislative Branch | Shared Hospital Grade Breast Pump for the Legislative Branch | Breast pump that can be used by multiple users. | Downtown |
| Metro
|
Hygiene Kits
|
Sanitizer, wipes, caution tape, gloves, and plastic bags for bus operators. | Multiple |
| Metro | Better You, Better Me | Kitchen appliances update and nutrition workshop. | Downtown |
| Metro
|
Ethiopian Transit Operators Social Advancement
|
Social connection event. | Multiple |
| Metro
|
SB Operations-Pool Table
|
Pool table refurbishment. | South |
| Metro | Mobile Exercise Space | Mobility and strength kits. | Downtown |
| Metro
|
Field Office Restoration Project
|
Paint walls, fix cabinets and floor, and replace refrigerator.
|
Downtown |
| Metro
|
Bottled Water Filling Station
|
Water bottle filling station. | East |
| Metro
|
Equity Training for New Job Opportunities
|
Ipads and other technology to provide trainings and help staff access county health information.
|
North |
| Metro
|
Quiet/Wellness Room Upgrade and Fridge
|
Refrigerator and chaise lounge to upgrade wellness room and kitchen.
|
Downtown |
| Metro
|
Ergonomic Training and Assessments
|
Ergonomic training and educational materials for bus operators and vehicle maintenance staff. | Downtown |
| Metro
|
CIO Rejuve Room
|
Wellness room for staff. | Downtown |
| Prosecuting Attorney’s Office
|
Therapy Dog to Assist Secondary Trauma
|
Therapy dog to reduce secondary trauma for staff. | Downtown |
| Prosecuting Attorney’s Office
|
Relaxation/Lactation Room
|
Wellness and lactation room for staff. | Downtown |